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State lawmaker wants to ban 3D printed firearms

theverge.com

LANSING, MI (MPRN)--   A state lawmaker says he wants to get ahead of technological improvements in 3D printing. 

A new bill would ban 3D printed firearms. It was introduced by Democratic Representative Abdullah Hammoud. He says the technology to print components of firearms and then assemble them with other parts into guns is still new and 3D printers are expensive, but they’ve gotten cheaper over the years.

He says as technology improvements make the printers more accessible, the Legislature needs to think ahead.

“We know we have a gun violence epidemic happening across our country. So this is a very forward looking, proactive measure that we can institute to ensure the security and safety of our families across the state,” he says.

New York recently adopted a similar law.  A primary concern is that the guns can be made in a person’s home without a background check and are not traceable by law enforcement.

Before becoming the newest Capitol reporter for the Michigan Public Radio Network, Cheyna Roth was an attorney. She spent her days fighting it out in court as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Ionia County. Eventually, Cheyna took her investigative and interview skills and moved on to journalism. She got her masters at Michigan State University and was a documentary filmmaker, podcaster, and freelance writer before finding her home with NPR. Very soon after joining MPRN, Cheyna started covering the 2016 presidential election, chasing after Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and all their surrogates as they duked it out for Michigan. Cheyna also focuses on the Legislature and criminal justice issues for MPRN. Cheyna is obsessively curious, a passionate storyteller, and an occasional backpacker. Follow her on Twitter at @Cheyna_R